Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Saturday 13th November 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 13/11/21
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US Study Visa Surge For Nigerian Students To Begin November 24
The United States’ mission in Nigeria says it will be expanding its operations to better serve the students’ population of Nigeria starting from November 24.
The US Consulate General disclosed this in a statement on Friday, adding that the approach would be two-fold.
The statement read, “This approach will be two-fold: a special procedure for students who need to renew student visas to continue their course of study, and a series of dedicated interview days for prospective new students.”
“New Student Visa Applications: You may be eligible for a priority student visa interview slot if you are a prospective student seeking an F1 visa appointment and you have not been refused an F1 visa in the past six months. We encourage all students to submit the documents listed below as soon as possible to take advantage of this limited opportunity. Please note that in order to schedule as many qualified and interested students as possible, we are unable to accommodate any requests to reschedule your appointment.
“Abuja applicants: Abuja students’ surge days will take place on December 8, December 15, and January 12. These surge days will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. To make an appointment in Abuja, visit www.ustraveldocs.com/ng and review the criteria and instructions to request an emergency student visa interview.
“Lagos applicants: Lagos student surge days will take place on November 24, December 8, and December 15. These surge days will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Returning Student Visa Applications; if you are currently studying in the United States, you may be eligible for a special application procedure. To qualify for this procedure, you must be renewing a student visa that is still valid or has expired within the past 24 months and are renewing your visa either to: (a) continue participation in the same major course of study even if at a different institution; or (b) attend the same institution even if in a different major course of study.
“Abuja applicants: Go to www.ustraveldocs.com/ng and follow the instructions to complete your visa application.”
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US-based Group Petitions Biden Government To Designate Buhari, Tinubu, El-Rufai, Others As Sponsors Of Terrorism In Nigeria
Global Advocates for Terrorism Eradication (GATE), a United States-based non-profit organisation, has petitioned the US government to designate President Muhammadu Buhari and several other officials as sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria.
The 26-page petition, signed by the group’s Principal Advocate, Robert Berry, was addressed to Anthony J. Blinken, the US Secretary of State.
The group urged the US government to designate the Nigerian government as sponsors of terrorism, alleging that “from all available indices, what is happening in Nigeria is state-sponsored terrorism.”
It alleged that the Nigerian government officials were sponsoring terrorism by carrying out terrorist activities including training, funding, financing, and recruitment of terrorists using their offices as a safe haven, transit and operational base for terrorists and terrorist activities.
GATE, in the petition, accused the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of kaduna State, former Chief of Army Staff and Current Nigerian Ambassador to Republic of Benin, Tukur Buratai, and the Director General of State Services, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, of aiding terrorism in Nigeria.
Others accused of terrorism by GATE are; former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, Ministers of Communications, Justice and Information, Isa Pantami, Abubakar Malami and Lai Mohammed respectively, amongst others.
It alleged that “the Nigerian government officials have deployed the instrumentality of power and are using the veil of sovereignty in knowingly consenting and with malicious intent allowing and promoting the use of Nigeria as a breeding ground and recruitment nursery for international terrorism activities contrary to foreign relations authorizations act fiscal years 1988 and 1989 (P.L.100 to 204:22 U.S.C 2656f), as amended.”
The group also gave a two-month notice to the United States Government, warning that “if at the expiration of the two months deadline, and the designation is not made, GATE will proceed to the Federal Court in United States to apply for a Writ of Mandamus to compel the United States Secretary of State to issue the designation in line with the provisions of Law.”
GATE argued that designating Nigerian officials as sponsors of terrorism by the US will have far reaching legal implications, including potentially arrest and criminal prosecution in a Federal US court if they visit the country.
Buttressing its point, the group cited an interview a former Deputy Director of Defense Intelligence Services of the Nigerian Military, Navy Commodore Kunle Olawunmi, granted Channels Television on August 24, 2021.
It said in spite of the revelations from the interview, the Nigerian government did nothing about the issues raised.
“That in spite of this knowledge, the Nigerian government has vehemently refused to take appropriate measures to protect her citizens and the global community from the nefarious activities of those state actors,” it said.
The group concluded: “The current Nigerian Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari is executing a Global Jihadist agenda that is comparable, if not more insidious than that of the Taliban’s of Afghanistan.
“It is even more dangerous because it is mixed with genocidal tendencies. It is in the best interest of the United States and all the Democratic countries of the world to identify this threat early and address it now.
“This is to prevent the further spread of the global jihadist agenda of the Buhari government and to arrest an imminent ethnic and religious genocide.”
Terrorism
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E2%80%93-civic Anambra: Nigerian Government Must Tackle Insecurity To Prevent Poor Turnout In 2023 – Civic Group, CDD
The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has released its post-election analysis report on the just concluded Anambra State election, describing the exercise as “satisfactory”.
In the report released on Friday and signed by its Director, Idayat Hassan, CDD said though there were pockets of logistic challenge and technical glitches, these didn’t impact on the overall outcome of the result and the credibility of the process.
Admitting that the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) did malfunction during the Saturday election and later picked in the supplementary election on Tuesday in the Ihiala Local Government Area, the group said it was important for INEC to swiftly address the hiccups with the device, strengthen the infrastructure supporting the system, and further expose its staffs to improved technical training.
CDD urged the electoral umpire and other stakeholders to do all within their power to avoid inconclusive elections as it dampens confidence in the transparency and credibility of elections.
According to the centre, it was equally important for INEC to improve the pace of transmission of election results to IREV (INEC Result Viewing) Portal to assure stakeholders of the integrity of the process.
“We (CDD) call on the Federal Government to take urgent measures to address worsening insecurity in the build-up to the 2023 elections, as this has clear implications on voter turnout.
“We urge INEC to review its current logistics strategy and hire private logistics companies who can be held accountable in case of a breach. We are also calling on all the stakeholders to address the challenge of election-related fake news and disinformation ahead of subsequent elections. We also support continuing efforts to engage citizens about the merits of not selling their votes to political actors,” the report read in part.
Applauding the Civil Society Organisations for their roles in the election, CDD said CSOs should also develop a specific voter education program to counter vote-buying in election, undertake civic education programs to attract more people to participate in elections and hold the government to account.
The centre also said there was need for more investment of financial resources and time in tackling electoral disinformation, increase election monitoring capacity, and continuous adoption of diverse and non-violent tactics to increase pressure on the government to deliver good governance.
The report called on the political actors to intensify efforts to getting President Muhammadu Buhari assent the Electoral act amendment bill 2021.
“It’s important also for the politicians to regulate the role of money in politics to retain trust in the democratic system; increase election monitoring capability; engage in voter education to increase turnout; and as part of promoting democratic accountability and presenting themselves as an alternation, Opposition parties are encouraged to monitor the activities of the elected; opposition could even present itself as a unified front working as a democratic opposition to monitor incumbents.
“CDD urged the diplomatic communities to help impose sanctions on erring political actors and government officials who impugn the integrity of elections in the country, and “ fund civil society work in elections as a circle, not as a process.”
Elections
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US-based Nigerian Prophet Narrates How Policemen In Osun Brutalised Him, Beat Up Sister
A United States-based Nigerian pastor, Emmanuel Oshiyoye, has narrated how officers attached to the Osun State Police Command tortured and harassed him while on his way to Lagos.
The prophet added that his sister was also physically assaulted by the policemen.
He narrated that they were treated like criminals and taken to the station where they were illegally detained for several hours.
“I recently came to Nigeria, for my church pilgrimage, as a minister. So, I visited Osun State last Wednesday, the 3rd of November, on my way back, I was sleeping when they stopped my car. My godson who drove, was then assaulted while his phone was being searched. That woke me up from my sleep.
“I stepped out of the car, greeted the police officers and told my god-son that, in case of next time, he has a right not to consent to impromptu search of his personal property. Since that was how his younger brother got into a debt of N18 million because of police brutality and abuse of power. I wasn’t talking to the officer, but to my god-son.
“Then another police officer approached me and asked where I worked but I calmly responded ‘I don’t think it’s your business because it’s not in this country.’ Then he said I was very stupid. Lo and behold, I lost it and called him stupid as well. Then he began to threaten me that he’d deal with me and he could kill me and nothing will happen.
“With that statement, my sister feared and began to record live on Facebook. The moment I felt threatened that I might die, I became verbally defensive. They saw my sister recording so they all bounced on her, beating her up, spraining her elbow and biting her on her back. They broke her phone.
“During the assault, one of the officers bit her and she retaliated. While all this went on, I was in shock and was too shocked to move or speak as I saw how a woman was being beaten up by three men in uniform. Before I knew it, one charged at me and began to punch my jaw. He punched me five times and I felt my jaw dislocating. My right arm began to shake due to the shock. I was dizzy and felt like I was going to die. On the spot my sister was crying for help as her elbow had been sprained.
“At that time, I saw a military person pulling me and instructed me to sit beside my son who was already sitting by the roadside and beaten by some army guy who joined the police officers.
“On the spot, I could not sit because he cocked the gun at my face. I was shocked. Then a policeman showed the army guys two small pouches of marijuana and claimed they belonged to me (a Pastor). While they took me away, my sister insisted on following them because she felt they were kidnappers in disguise and I was a person of target.
“My godson drove after us as well. In the vehicle, I began to say spiritual words, because now it was a do or die thing. At that point they all began to say if I continue to talk, they would kill me. I continued in saying those words to protect myself at that point. We got to a building opposite the main station; they put me in a dirty room.
“Then the DPO came and began to apologise to my sister and I and disclosed that they would let me go if I reversed the curse because they feared that I was a man of God. That interpreted to me that if I don’t reverse the curse, they will kill my sister and I so I quickly reversed it, just to get out of there.
“They made me sign a statement out of duress that I’ll let go of the case. My statement was I was assaulted and arrested unfairly but I let go. I will head to the hospital. I had to do what they wanted so I wouldn’t want my enemies to laugh at me that I died in Nigeria a day before my flight back to US.
“Till now, I’m in severe pains, headache have not stopped. Vision is blurry. And I cannot chew. I have to see my doctor on Monday. I want justice.”
Police
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Kidnappers Free Wife Of ECWA Church Pastor In Sokoto After N2.5million Ransom
Gunmen
The wife of the Secretary of the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) in Sokoto State, Pastor Oro Yakubu, who was kidnapped by bandits on Wednesday, has been released.
It was gathered that the bandits freed the pastor’s wife after taking delivery of N2.5million ransom.
Gunmen
SaharaReporters, earlier today, reported that Bandits have kidnapped the wife of the Secretary of Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA), in Sokoto State, Oro Yakubu.
She was said to have been kidnapped on the way from Lambar Bakura to Lambar Tureta while going to Sokoto from Tsafe.
The bandits contacted the family, while demanding N30million which was negotiated down to N2.5million.
A church member who pleaded anonymity said, “Yes, N2.5million ransom was paid, but what’s exciting is that mama is back with us.
“Praise God for his mercy, grace and favour, we are grateful to God for his intervention”, he said.
Another jubilant church fellow posted on a WhatsApp platform “Wife of the ECWA Sokoto DCC Secretariat has been released she has already been reunited with her family.”
Insecurity
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E2%80%93-governor-ortom-tells-police Murder Of Benue-born Vanguard Journalist, Tordue Must Be Probed – Governor Ortom Tells Police Inspector-General
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has expressed shock over the circumstances around the death of Tordue Henry Salem, a reporter with Vanguard newspaper, who was discovered dead on Thursday.
The police said a hit-and-run driver confessed to killing the Benue State-born deceased around the Mabushi area of Abuja.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba had while confirming the incident said Tordue’s body was discovered at the Wuse General Hospital morgue after forensic leads were recovered from his sim card found at the ‘Good Friends garage’ at Mpape.
But Governor Ortom in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur on Friday said he was surprised at the sudden and mysterious recovery of the body of the deceased reporter.
Ortom who expressed pain over the sudden disappearance of the former Vanguard reporter and how he was found dead by unidentified persons in an undisclosed location in Abuja, said the recovery of his remains was suspicious and deserved to be thoroughly investigated.
The statement said, “Governor Ortom appeals to the Inspector-General of Police, the director-general of the Department of State Service (DSS) and other sister agencies to do everything possible to unravel the mystery surrounding the gruesome murder of the Benue-born journalist.
“Governor Ortom reiterates that the Benue State government is always committed to the safety of all her citizens both at home and in the diaspora, and will not rest on its oars until the perpetrators of this heinous act do not go unpunished.”
He reiterated that the Benue State Government would do its part to ensure the perpetrators were punished.
Journalism
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Anti-graft Commission, EFCC Arrests Suspect For $200,000 Bitcoin Fraud, Links Him To Cubana Group
EFCC operatives.
The nation’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Precious Ofure Omonkhoa following a suspected bitcoin investment fraudulent deal.
The commission’s Head of Media, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
EFCC operatives.
He said Precious was apprehended in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State, after a credible intelligence about his illicit activities.
Precious allegedly posed as Moshem Cnich, a Swedish national, to defraud unsuspecting victims.
The suspect claimed that he ran a bitcoin scheme where people invest money to make huge returns.
Preliminary investigation, Uwujaren noted, revealed that Precious engaged in a dating scam and had defrauded two victims in Canada.
“The suspect confessed to have laundered the proceeds of his fraudulent activities by purchasing a piece of land worth $150,000 through bitcoin from CASA-Cubana, a project being run by the Cubana Group”, he said.
Cubana Group is owned by popular socialite, Obinna Iyiegbu better known as Obi Cubana.
It is not certain if the EFCC questioned the businessman about Precious’ transaction with CASA-Cubana during his 4-day interrogation in Abuja.
Uwujaren added that upon his arrest, $50,000 was found in the suspect’s bitcoin wallet.
He will soon be charged to court.
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E2%80%93-ipob-leader%E2%80%99s-lawyer-tells-buhari Biafra: No Dialogue Until Nnamdi Kanu Is Released – IPOB Leader’s Lawyer Tells Buhari
Aloy Ejimakor, lawyer to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has said there would be no dialogue with the Nigerian government except the separatist leader regains his freedom.
In a series of tweets on Friday, Ejimakor stated how former South African President, Nelson Mandela was released from prison before apartheid ended.
According to Ejimakor: “UPDATE: Today, I had a visitation with #Onyendu in the company of my colleague, Barr Ejiofor & his brother, Prince Emma Kanu. Our discussion centred primarily on the unfortunate episode in Court yesterday & the next course of action. Stay tuned for the details.
“DIALOGUE? Nobody can initiate any dialogue until Onyendu #Kanu is released. This must be the 1st step because it’s only MNK that has the vires to lead any dialogue. The release of Mandela from prison was the 1st step in the dialogue that led to ending apartheid in South Africa.”
Ejimakor’s comment is coming at a time the President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime hinted at the possibility of a political solution to Kanu’s issue.
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, recently during an interview said a political solution on Kanu and Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Igboho’s case had not been ruled out and could still happen.
He said the government was open to all kinds of considerations as part of efforts to resolve the crisis surrounding separatist agitations around the country.
Kanu’s next hearing in court comes up on 19 and 20 of January, 2022.
Human Rights
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E2%80%93-herdsmen Nigerian Military Air Strikes Killed 1500 Cows In Taraba – Herdsmen
Grazing cows
Air strikes launched by a Nigerian military fighter jet at Fulani herdsmen settlements in the Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State, was said to have killed about 1,500 cows belonging to the herdsmen.
It was learnt from the witnesses that the air strikes started at about 11am and lasted till 4pm on Wednesday and Thursday around Kashinbila and Tor Donga areas.
Grazing cows
Post Nigeria
A victim identified as Sadu Saidu, lamented that he lost about 120 cows while his brother Sale lost 105 cows during the air strikes.
Sadu said, “We were about to lead our herds to the grazing area when we heard the sound of an approaching aircraft and it came with fire.
“We all ran for our lives and took cover under big trees and within minutes we countered about 700 cows dead and that was the first strike.”
He added that the same aircraft came the following day for another air raid of the two settlements killing seven hundred and fifty cattle.
Another victim namely Musa, said stressed that apart from the cows killed, several ones which were wounded had been disposed in Takum town.
He said the incident had forced hundreds of Fulani herders to move towards Cameroon with their herds.
A resident of in Takum, Yakubu Rabiu, said cow meat is now everywhere in Takum and being sold at cheap rate.
The Spokesperson of Taraba police command, Usman Abdullahi confirmed the incident saying it only happened in Benue and not Taraba State.
He said, “The matter under inquest is in Benue State, not Takum as confirmed to me by the DCO Takum Division please.”
Agriculture
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How Nigerian Army Authorities Mismanaged Funds Budgeted For Direct Service Commission 26
The Nigerian Army has squandered the monetary allocation for the Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) 26, year 2021, SaharaReporters has learnt.
According to authoritative sources, in August 2020, the Nigerian Army advertised the recruitment of candidates for the Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC 26) and people applied.
But while the training was ongoing at the Nigerian Army Fitness Centre, Falgore Forest, Kano State; there was a change in leadership as late Lt Gen Ibrahim Attahiru took over from Lt Gen Tukur Buratai (retd.).
Before his death, Attahiru had been considering the continuation of the training at Falgore forest but candidates never proceeded to the next stage.
According to the source, after the training, successful candidates would be invited to go for training at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry, Jaji, Kaduna State, but nothing had been heard from the Nigerian Army since then.
He further alleged that the late Attahiru reportedly later cancelled the course because of the rift between him and his predecessor, Buratai.
The source also said the monetary allocation for the course had been squandered by either the late Attahiru or his successor, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya.
He said, “A certain amount of money was released to the Nigerian Army concerning the training of the Direct Short Service 26 personnel. When Buratai was the Chief of Army Staff, he allowed the training to take place in Falgore. After then, they were supposed to proceed to Jaji, Armed Forces Command School, Jaji, to continue their training but Attahiru cancelled that particular recruitment whereas money had been released for it.
”Attahiru before now had pleaded with Buratai when Buratai was Chief of Army Staff to allow his niece and someone get into the army but Buratai refused; so when Attahiru came into power, he was trying to pay back and cancelled the DSSC 26.
“It has never happened in the history of the Nigerian Army. We were expecting that whatever the delay might be would be resolved, but it is over 9 months now. Usually by August, the Nigerian Army would have released names for new intakes. The one they cancelled was DSSC 26 and now the Nigerian Army has not done anything about it but the money they have taken from the budget allocated for that, where is it?”
Corruption
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